Machine for grinding and polishing metallic balls.



APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1910.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

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ALBERT nINeL Nn,- or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro STANDARD ROLLER BEARING'COMIANY, or PHILADELPHIA, rENnsYiYANIA, A CORPORATION or NEW Jnnsnv. A

' 'i/IAcII Nn 'roneninmne AND POLISHING METALLIC B LLS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALnnn'r RINGLAND, a l

is supported on the standard B, and has on citizen of the United States, residing in the cityand county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,have invented a newand useful Machine for Grinding and Polishing Metallic Balls-of which the following is a specification;-

-My invention consists-0t a machine for grinding and polishing metallic balls, embodying-a 'bed'having a spiral groove or recess to receive the balls, and a runner-adapted to be. pressed against said balls so as to cause the'latterto traverse said recess and thereby-beiground'and polished, and means for returning the balls if unfinished to the bed to be furthermore subjected to grinding and polishing operations. I

It consists also of a tell-tale for automatically indicating that the balls are properly finished. f I

it consists further 01' means for discharging the finished balls.

For the purpose of explaining the invention, the accompanying drawings illustrate a satisfactory reduction of the same to practice, but the important instrumentalities thereof may be'varied, and so itis to be understood that the invention is-not limited to the specific arrangement and organization duced and finished condition. Fig. 6 repre sents a section of beds of the machine, having different shaped grooves or recesses therein. Fig. 7 represents a modification of the spiral groove or recess. Fig. '8 represents a vertical section of. the parts shown in the upper portion of Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

iPatented Jan. 10, 1911.

- Application filed June 16, 1910. Serial No. 567,131.

Referring to the drawings :Ad signates a bed of the form of a plate or dis Wl11Cl1 its inner face the spiral groove or recess'C which has an inletor supply channel D, and outlet or discharge channel E, said channels passing transversely through the bed and terminating. near each other on the outer side of said bed. I

F designates a supply hopper or tunnel' position by the action of the upwar lly-pressing spring J, the latterhaving a supportK on the side of the bed A. Connected with the block H. is the lever K which is mounted in the bed A and adapted to lower said block and so uncover the bottom of the chute G, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

It will be noticed that the channel E is.

inclined downwardly and that the channel D is inclined upwardly, both in'the directionfrom the inner to the outer side otthe bed,

and that the uppertace of the block H is sloping so as to accord with the channel' D with which, in av measure, it forms a continuation in the normal condition of said block.

L ilesignates a lever, the inner end of which projects through a slot in the side of the chute G into the interior thereof, so as to be in the path of the balls in said chute and to be depressed by the same, as plainly shown in Fig. 4-. The outer limb of said lever is lengthened whereby it overbalances the inner limb thereof, so as to elevate the latter when relieved of the balls, as plainly shown in Fig. 5.

N designates a runner of grinding and polishing material, it having its working face against the recessed face of the bed A, said runner being connected with the arbor or shaft P by the feather Q, so that while the runner receives rotary motion from said arbor, it may move slidably therein in a direetion toward the bed A, it being subjected in such motion by the action of the spring R, which is interposed between the hubs ofv the runner and the bearing T of the arbor P, said bearing being on the standard U, said arbor receiving rotary motion in any suitable manner.

The operation is as follows :-The hopper is supplied with balls, which descend through the chute G and pass the end of the lever L "so as to reach the channel D,

by the latter is, rotated and it bears against condition to be removed.

the balls carrying them through the spiral recess and subjecting them to the grinding and polishing action of the runner N under the pressure of the spring P. l/Vhen the balls traverse said recess, they enter the channel E and so are rcconveyed to the chute G. If their diameter is not sufficiently reduced, they drop' on the adjacent end of the lever L and lower and trip the same and then strike the block H, from whence they roll into the channel D and so are reconveyed to the recess C so as to be subjected to a further grinding and polishing action. As a ball passes the end of the lever, the

latter is released and rises so as to engage the next descending ball and then be actu-- atcd by the latter, thus causing the lever to vibrate, acting as a tell-tale or indicator to the operator that the balls are'not in Should, however, the balls be reduced 1.0 the required diameter, the end of the lever is no longer in the path or the same, when said end rises in the slot M, as in Fig. 5, and the lever ceases to vibrate, thus indicating to the operator the finish of the-balls. The lever K is now operated, so as to lower the block H, when the balls no longer contact with the same, the bottom of the chute G then being uncovered or opened, and thus the balls may drop from the chute and-be gathered or be directed elsewhere to a place of deposit in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 6, I show spiral grooves or recesses Q, C and C of difierent contours from the semi-cylindrical groove or recess in Fig. 1, Without, however, producing dif- Ierent results.

In Fig. 7 I show the spiral groove or recess C continued as at C to the periphery Letters Patent, is a 1. In a machine of the character stated,

a bed having therein a spiral-shapedrecess, a supply channel leadin thereto, and a dis charge outlet leading t erefrom and ballengaging'means at the junction of said channel andoutlet.

2. In a machine of the character stated, a bed having a recess to receive an article to be polished, a runner opposite thereto, and movably mounted-means at the junction of the inlet and discharge from said recess for automatically redirecting said article to the inlet of said recess after leaving the outlet thereof.

3. In a machine, of the character stated, a bed having a spirally-shaped recess therein, an inlet channel leading to said recess, and an outlet channel leading from said recess, one of said channels leading from said recess near the periphery and the other leading from said recess near the center of the bed and a supplying vessel adapted to form a communication for said channels.

'4. In a machine of the character stated, a bed having a spirally-shaped recess therein, an inlet channel leading to said recess, and an outlet channel leading from said recess, one of said channels leading from said recess near the periphery and the other-leading from said recess near the center of the bed, a supplying vessel adapted to form a communication for said channels, and a movable supporting member on said vessel adjacent to the outlet channel.

5. In a machine of the character stated, a bed having on its working face a groove,

and through its body a supply channel and base of said vessel adjacent the junction of said outlet and supply channels, and the terminal of said outlet channel adapted to close and uncover said channel.

6. In a grinding and polishing machlne of the character stated, a bed and a runner .adapted to grind and polish an article ad mitted between the same, means for return- 'ing said article fromthe outlet of sa id'bed to the inlet thereof, and a tell-tale in said means of the finished work.

7. In a grinding and polishing machine of the character stated, a bed and a runner therefor, a supplying vessel for said bed, and a tell-tale on said device composed of a lever having a limb within the same in the path of the article traversing said device.

8. In a grinding and polishing machine of the character stated, a bed and a runner position and means for operating said mem' therefor, 11 supplyingvessel for sand bed, her to open said vessel.

a tell-tale of the finished Work havin a T limb adapted to enter said vessel in the p ath v ALBERP RIB A of the article hraversing the same, a n1e1n- Vitnesses:

ber adapted to close the outletof said ves- C. D. MCVAY,

sol, means for holding said member in closed M. E. RINKENBAOH. 

